Truth about Nintendo DS wi-fi hotspots

[rudo3]

there is a lot of talk about nintendo entering an agreements about seting up hotspots or using hotspots of others (eg Mc Donalds).

but i don't understand why...
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO USE ANY PUBLIC WI-FI HOTSPOTS FOR PLAYING DS ONLINE ?

or IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO USE McDONALDS HOTSPOTS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT OF NINTENDO/McDONALDS ?

please answer...

[Jordan]

...Any need for all the caps? Jeeze.

Right, listen. You can use any hotspot as long as it supports the DS' signal. Which will be like 99% of hotspots. Some hotspots have to be paied for, other places they are free. Your best bet is to just set one up in your house.

[monkeyDluffy]

most hot spots you have to pay for, mc d's you do and thats the benefit of this agreement, that the hot spot provider will provide free access for ds users, for the UK i'd expect them to announce a deal with BT or someone similar to allow free access.

[rudo3]

so with DS it's the same as with my notebook...

1. as long as the hotspot is free, it should work straight away
2. otherwise you have to pay for it or use paid hotspots which are free for DS users under nintendo agreement

thanx !

[YenRug]

The indications are that you will not be able to just "plug in" to public hotspots:

http://ds.ign.com/articles/659/659017p1.html

IGN: How would you play DS online at other establishments with hotspots, such as Starbucks?

Beth Llewelyn: Well, you can still use the DS anywhere there's a Wi-Fi connection. You just would have to set it up through a laptop and use the USB port adapter. So, if you're in Starbucks and have a laptop, you would still have to perhaps pay the service fee to get that access. But the beauty of working with Wayport and having the service available at McDonald's is that you literally walk into McDonald's, you turn on your game, there's Mario Kart, you click on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and you go. It's very simple.

The McDonalds agreement is very specific, in that the WiFi Hotspot is pre-configured to take the DS connection.

[NeoBlizz]

You should be able to use ANY non-protected AccessPoint.

That means any accesspoint without mac-filter, wep, wpa, passwords.

[Triple_C]

NeoBlizz, I don't understand a word of that but I hope its good :)

[MikeMania]

so it seems that non-nintendo "official" hotspots must be further configured using a computer, and those setting cannot be done in the DS WiFi UI?

[Marshmellow]

You should be able to use ANY non-protected AccessPoint.

That means any accesspoint without mac-filter, wep, wpa, passwords.

but will i still be able to connect to my home wifi router at home even though it has a wep key on it?

[c0Zm1c]

but will i still be able to connect to my home wifi router at home even though it has a wep key on it?
Yes, because you can enter your WEP key into the DS to grant it access to your WiFi router. :)

[JonSt]

but will i still be able to connect to my home wifi router at home even though it has a wep key on it?

As long as you know what the WEP key is. Its like, say an msn password, if you dont now what it is you wont get it. ITs obviously a little more complex but that was me trying to make it simple for you.

[mario114]

If they make you pay, just sit out side of the place, the range sshould allow you to use it from outside there building, sneaky huh.

[Bren]

im gonna set up my own one , but does that mean people can play it standin outside my house? cheeky buggers

[Eenuh]

I must live in a crappy country because I've never seen a place here that has a hotspot. =/

Or again, I must be blind and missing something...
Any Belgians here know about any places that (might) have hotspots?

[fatnickc]

The quoted question and answer does not mean that you will have to use a computer. They are talking about paid hotspots, in which case you would need to do it through a computer as you can't pay on a DS. However, if the hotspot is free, you can set up a connection. You may need to know a few details about it to set it up, but if it is not protected, then I doubt you need much.

[LukeLee]

I must live in a crappy country because I've never seen a place here that has a hotspot. =/

Or again, I must be blind and missing something...
Any Belgians here know about any places that (might) have hotspots?

try looking on www.wifi411.com

[CooInTheZoo]

I dont understand why i need a shitty usb thing to go online when i have a perfectly good router that works just fine with my psp! GRRR damn you Nintendo!!!

[Calza]

I dont understand why i need a shitty usb thing to go online when i have a perfectly good router that works just fine with my psp! GRRR damn you Nintendo!!!

You can use your own router with the DS just if you don't have one then the usb is cheap and simple.

[CooInTheZoo]

....OHHH so its an alternative, its not necissary? YAY!

[JonSt]

im gonna set up my own one , but does that mean people can play it standin outside my house? cheeky buggers

If you have no security on it yes. But as long as you use a wep key and dont broadcast your ssid no one will be able to.

[Triple_C]

Hmmm, this is ounding better.

[Eenuh]

try looking on www.wifi411.com

Heh, thanks. This is what I get: "records not found!!!"
God, what's wrong with where I live? X3

[LukeLee]

Heh, thanks. This is what I get: "records not found!!!"
God, what's wrong with where I live? X3

there are simular website that might help, and who knows Europe might be lucky enough like America and Nintendo will announce a deal to have free DS wifi in all McDonalds.

[Eenuh]

Heh, too bad I never eat at McDonalds. Hate the place. Actually, I never go out to any kind of place to eat. I'm a sad person.